The Great Battle of Mountain Beasts (2)
But the orcs kept coming. The initial attack had been a feint, a means to tire out the troll front line. The real attack came from the sides.
On both flanks, orc battalions surged forward in scattered, irregular patterns. Rather than charge directly into the troll ranks, they used hit-and-run tactics, darting in to strike and then falling back before the trolls could retaliate. The trolls, larger and slower, struggled to respond to this sudden shift in strategy. The flanking orcs moved like a swarm of hornets, stabbing and hacking at any opening they could find, and then retreating just as quickly.
The troll commander knew this was dangerous. The orcs were trying to force his troops into breaking formation, hoping to spread them thin and create gaps. But he had prepared for this.
"Rear guard, tighten the lines! Don't let them split us!" he bellowed to his captains.